Synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluororibo- and 2′-deoxy-2′,2′-difluororibonucleosides derived from 6-(het)aryl-7-deazapurines

A series of novel sugar-modified derivatives of cytostatic 6-hetaryl-7-deazapurine ribonucleosides (2′-deoxy-2′-fluororibo- and 2′-deoxy-2′,2-difluororibonucleosides) bearing an aryl or hetaryl group in position 6, was prepared and screened for biological activity. The fluororibo derivatives were prepared by aqueous palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of the corresponding 6-chloro-7-deazapurine 2′-deoxy-2′-fluororibonucleoside 11 with (het)arylboronic acids. The key intermediate 11 was prepared by a six-step sequence from the corresponding arabinonucleoside by selective protection of 3′- and 5′-hydroxyls by acid-labile groups followed by stereoselective SN2 fluorination and deprotection. The difluororibo-series was prepared by non-stereoselective glycosidation of 6-chloro-7-deazapurine with benzoyl-protected 2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl-1-mesylate followed by cross-couplings, separation of anomers and deprotection. The title nucleosides did not show considerable cytostatic or antiviral activity.